01/23/2017

Airport Authority Breaks Ground on BNA Vision

'Parking and Transportation Center' First Major Project of Airport Growth and Expansion Plan

NASHVILLE – With an event featuring Mayor Megan Barry, top officials of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) today broke ground on a new Parking and Transportation Center at Nashville International Airport (BNA), the first major project comprising BNA Vision, the Airport Authority's comprehensive growth and expansion plan.

The six-level, 2,000 space parking structure will be located directly south of the current Short Term Garage. The first floor will be a dedicated Ground Transportation Center for commercial vehicles such as taxis, limos, shuttles and ride-sharing. Other new features include a parking space guidance system, green-screen vegetation wall, capacity for 20,000 gallons of rain water harvesting for landscape irrigation and a 50-kilowatt solar array on the top level.

The Parking and Transportation Center is set to open summer 2018.

"Nashville International Airport is the gateway to our city for so many of our visitors, and it is important that we leave a great first impression," said Mayor Megan Barry. "BNA Vision will create an even more enjoyable experience for travelers, while promoting sustainability and generating economic revenue in the process."

"Breaking ground today heralds the first phase of construction of BNA Vision, our dynamic plan to meet the needs of our rapidly growing region," said Rob Wigington, MNAA president and CEO. "This state-of-the-art Parking and Transportation Center is step one in our continued effort to maintain Nashville International Airport as a world-class facility for our passengers."

Activity at Nashville International Airport has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, making BNA one the fastest growing airports in North America. In 2016, 12,979,803 passengers traveled into and out of BNA, an increase of more than 1.3 million passengers representing a robust 11 percent increase over the previous year, and setting a new all-time passenger record for the fourth consecutive calendar year. Current projections indicate passenger traffic at BNA will surpass 20 million by 2035.

"Our growth and expansion plan—BNA Vision— is exactly what we need: a smart and innovative undertaking designed to accommodate our region's booming growth and our airport's record-breaking passenger numbers," said Bobby Joslin, MNAA Board of Commissioners chair. "This is an exciting time, and we're on an aggressive schedule to accomplish our objectives. Together, the future of the airport, like Nashville itself, is limitless."